Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Do-It-Yourself Irish News Critic Kit

Do you find yourself thinking bad thoughts about the Irish News? Are you tempted to write those bad thoughts down? Given the Irish News' habit of suing its uppity readers, you should not do so unprepared! You need the DIY Irish News Critic Kit!

Anyone who criticises or questions the Irish News and their reporters knows it's only a matter of time before a solicitor's letter from Johnsons arrives at the door. Now YOU can pre-empt that action by filling out your OWN letter at the same time you write your bad thoughts with this standard template!

Armed with your own pre-prepared threatening letter already formatted and ready to go, you can let the Irish News know you've already got a letter from Johnsons for thinking bad thoughts about them. Whether you send it to yourself or the Irish News sends it to you, the result is the same!

Thinking bad thoughts and ready to write them down? ACT NOW!

Just fill in the relevant details and you're ready to go!

LC/0070000730

*INSERT DATE HERE*

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL – NOT FOR PUBLICATION

*INSERT NAME & ADDRESS HERE*

Dear Sir/Madam [delete as necessary],

RE: OUR CLIENT – ALLISON MORRIS

We have been instructed by Allison Morris, a leading and highly respected senior staff journalist with the Irish News in respect of false, defamatory, and harassing material which you have published on a website entitled “*insert website name here*” which can be located at the following link (“the website”):

*INSERT WEBSITE ADDRESS HERE*

*INSERT ALLEGATIONS HERE*(2 paragraph limit recommended) - ensure use of following phrases or similar as a minimum: "highly defamatory" "motivated by malice" "falsely state that our client behaved in an unprofessional and dishonest manner" "reckless allegations could endanger her personal security."

As the author and publisher of these allegations you are liable, along with the Internet Service Provider, for the resulting damage to our client’s reputation. Now that you are on notice of the defamatory and abusive material you are publishing, we require you to:

1. Immediately and permanently delete the defamatory and abusive content from your server, and effect the removal of any reference to our client on the website;

2. Immediately provide your undertaking in writing not to allow the same or similar allegations contained on the website to be cached or otherwise stored in any way.

In these circumstances, pending confirmation of the above, we reserve all of our client’s rights, including the right to issue legal proceedings against you in support of a claim for substantial damages.

26
comments
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Very comedic and sarcastic outline to the start of the post, loved it. As an Irish News reader, yes I know. I always regarded the Irish News of perhaps having a higher moral standpoint than maybe other, lets say tabloid style papers. Following this topic, I am starting to wonder if perhaps a hint of fascism is used in regards to any opposition voiced towards this paper.

I have a gripe with the Irish News and a gripe with Unionist letting the name misrepresent all they oppose some bright spark should start a campaign to have the name changed to reflect the imaginary line.The Northern Irish News just playing along with the theme of pointless law suits which they show great creativity with.

it is difficult to answer through my laughter you could be onto something there as the whispers would have it the man himself is fond of hiding and beaches the imagination can fill in the rest( no pun intended.)

Jim Spence a Scottish journalist with the BBC came under attack and attempts to censor him in the last ten days due to stating that an entity which had been liqudated in the Scottish courts was "dead".

Due to cowardice the BBC apologised for one of its journalists stating a legal reality, the truth, a fact.Some just didnt like what spence had said, didnt challenge the veracity of it just didnt like a little light being shone. Mr Spence then applied fror redundancy from the BBC in protest at the lack of support for his journalistic integrity. When this life changing stand was taken the NUJ suddenly become publicly supportive of their member.

The basis of the NUJ support, what Spence said is true.

Why then does the NUJ back the Irish News against a member who has told a truth,a fact, an uncontested version of reality?

Interesting Piece RE-Jim Spence , I hope he got what he deserved, Truth,Freedom Of Speech and Vindicated.

"Why then does the NUJ back the Irish News against a member who has told a truth,a fact, an uncontested version of reality?".

Its them in the Wee Chapel , they have utterly lost it, all the evidence is there , Its in Black and white , with a little bit of Colour (Photograph) lol, Its sad when a so called top Reporter states she could not afford to go to London for the Hearing with the NUJ , But she could afford to go and watch a football match in Scotland , Etc etc etc. Anthony will prevail on this one, Evidence in Photos , In Writing will show he is correct, and , I hope he will take the Irish News to court and put in a counter claim.

The International Federation of Journalists the spokesbody for journalists in the UN has described the attempts to censor Jim Spence and other Scottish journalists as "unacceptable".

Ray Greenslade has also written on the issue in the Guardian today he described the situation as " very worrying".

The Scottish NUJ described some of the emails Mr Spence received for stating facts as part of a piece expressing his opinion as "vile and disgusting". This is a very apt description of some of the posts Anthony and Carrie have been on the receiving end of because of the the attempts of the Irish News to intimidate them.

The International Federation of Journalists said in their statement " together with our regional group the European Federation of Journalists we consider that these reported threats to journalists in Scotland are an attempt to intimidate our collegues and stifle public debate, something which is unacceptable"

I would urge all those who oppose the attacks on the Pensive Quill to email the series of articles Anthony requested be distributed, to the International Federation of Journalists and Ray Greenslade of the Guardian urging them to oppose the attempts at intimadation

With all this censorship looming,could we possibly be looking at massive job creation opportunity, I mean we could all have doppelgangers and actors could make a tidy living as surrogate mouths,Frankie Boyle can be mine Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck ......

Anthony McIntyre

Former IRA volunteer and ex-prisoner, spent 18 years in Long Kesh, 4 years on the blanket and no-wash/no work protests which led to the hunger strikes of the 80s. Completed PhD at Queens upon release from prison. Left the Republican Movement at the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement, and went on to become a journalist. Co-founder of The Blanket, an online magazine that critically analyzed the Irish peace process.